The Fox in Sheep's Clothing

"Did something bad happen? Want me to comfort you?"

I couldn't stop smiling. The entire time I was working my shift, my grin was uncontrollable.

A harem. It was actually happening.

Even if it was under the vague, flimsy excuse of being "public property," I had managed to secure a life where I could indulge in pleasure between two women to my heart's content. It was the ultimate male fantasy. That alone was an achievement that put me in the top tier of the male hierarchy.

"Thank you! Please come again!"

"Uh... yeah. Good work."

I was in such a good mood that even the customers who usually annoyed me felt like they were blessing me. Perhaps it was because my spirits were so high, but I sent them off with such genuine cheer that even the ones who usually walked out indifferently were taken aback and returned the greeting.

Happiness really is contagious. Living positively is the best.

"Senior, did something good happen?"

Lee Harin, who was working with me today, noticed me drunk on happiness and asked.

"Yeah, something good happened."

"What is it?"

"Well, that is..."

I started to speak, then hesitated. Wait, was it really okay to share this with someone else? We didn't exactly have a normal relationship. If it were another guy, maybe, but a woman? Especially a woman I had a crush on? No way.

"J-just think of it as a good thing."

They say leaving a sentence unfinished is a sin, but I had no choice but to mumble an excuse.

"What's that? Are you hiding something?"

Lee Harin, however, became even more interested because of my attitude. I had underestimated her Insa (popular/socialite) energy. Once they latch onto a topic of conversation, they never let go.

"It's a bit difficult to talk about."

"That makes me even more curious. What is it that makes you so happy but also want to hide it? Oh, is it stocks? That's a huge ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠topic lately."

"It's not that."

"What could it be, what could it be? It's the first time I've seen you like this, so I'm dying to know."

Lee Harin even started guessing, resting her chin on her hand and swaying her body side to side.

She was just so fresh and lively. This side of her made my heart flutter. It was a kind of innocence I didn't see in the girls at home. I couldn't look at her with the same eyes as before anymore. I had become a dirty man.

"Umm... if it's not stocks, is it a girlfriend?"

"It's not that. Please, don't ask anymore."

It wasn't entirely different from the truth, but it would be troublesome if she misunderstood in that direction, so I firmly cut off the topic.

It might have been an absurd claim considering I was the one who started acting weird, but upon hearing my answer, Lee Harin immediately straightened her posture and playfully gave me a salute.

"Got it. Since you put it that way, I'll drop it. But you'll tell me later when you're feeling okay, right?"

I nodded silently. She was someone who could be considerate while still holding onto her curiosity. She didn't actually seem to be demanding an answer. This was the biggest difference. Unlike the women at my house who would force their opinions and make decisions regardless of how I felt, Harin’s consideration was starkly different.

Even if she had the same innocence, if it were Jung Hyeji, she would have pestered me until she got an answer. I had been indulging their tantrums until now, but since the situation had changed, I needed to be more assertive. I should start turning the girls at home into modest women who respect my opinions like this.

After the commotion died down, silence returned to the convenience store. This silence lasted quite a while. Was she disappointed by my attitude of cutting her off so abruptly, even for Lee Harin? If so, I should be the one to start the conversation this time.

"Come to think of it, did your MT go well?"

"Oh, yes! You remembered."

Harin eagerly bit onto the topic I tossed out. Thankfully, she didn't seem as angry as I had feared.

"It was fun staying up all night playing with friends for the first time, but it wasn't all good."

"Why? Did something happen?"

"It was my first time drinking alcohol, too. My heart was pounding, I couldn't control my body, and I could feel the male seniors taking advantage of the situation..."

"The guys? Did anything happen?"

My voice rose before I could stop it. Lee Harin was surprised by my reaction, then smiled brightly.

"No, the people around us stopped them, so nothing happened."

"Still, be careful. They're just guys who barely became adults; they might not know where to draw the line."

"Senior, you're only one year older than me."

"That... well, that's true."

A mistake. Anyone could see I was being impatient. I had been building up a persona as a kind, considerate senior, but this was a sudden outburst. Even if Harin was naive, she might have noticed my feelings by now.

"Senior, are you worried about me right now?"

"Huh? That's... well, you said it was your first time. Of course I'm worried."

"Thank you, Senior."

Thankfully, she didn't seem to misunderstand too much. She gave me her usual gentle smile.

"But I have enough intuition to know that much."

Wait, no. That sounded like she *did* notice my feelings after all. Another brief silence descended. Under the awkward air, I glanced at Harin. She was looking straight ahead with a smile, seemingly without a care in the world.

What was she thinking? Did I overreact to this, too? If it were the girls at home, they would have picked apart my words and teased me about what I meant. Lee Harin, on the other hand, didn't seem like the type to play mind games with every single word. Popular people are usually quick-witted, so there was a chance she was just playing along...

'At this rate, there won't be any progress.'

If anything, her nonchalant reaction made me even more anxious. If this was a trap she had set, I had no choice but to fall for it. It's only natural that the one who likes the other more is the one who loses.

"Harin-ah. I have a question."

"Yes, what is it, Senior?"

"Have you... ever been confessed to by a guy?"

I don't know why I asked that. A mix of impatience, the thrill of having had sex, and a bit of newfound confidence. It was only natural that a girl like Harin would be targeted by guys. Still, the thought of her being targeted by seniors at university made me want to confirm it. I figured if it were the innocent Harin, she might answer this without much thought.

"Uh..."

But her reaction was different from what I expected. Harin rolled her eyes as if she were in a bind, looking like she didn't know how to answer. Ah, I messed up. It was because I was overthinking things.

"No, I was just curious. You're pretty, so you must get a lot of attention from guys, right? Since I said seniors were hitting on you, I just wondered if that was your first experience."

I babbled to cover up what I had said. Harin, who had been listening to my excuses, smiled softly and replied.

"You don't need to be flustered; I didn't misunderstand in a weird way. It was just a sudden question, so I was choosing my words."

"Oh, I see. That's a relief."

"I went to an all-girls middle and high school, so I haven't really had many experiences with being confessed to."

She rested her chin on her hand, as if recalling memories of the past. The way her eyebrows furrowed slightly in concentration was cute.

"I have had strangers do it on the street, but since they were people I was seeing for the first time... it didn't feel very good."

"You can fall in love at first sight just by looking at someone's appearance, though."

"Appearance is important, but I think personality is more important. I think the charm of a person that isn't visible at first glance is more important."

Her answer was textbook. Because of that answer, I found myself wondering, 'Is there a chance for me, even with my looks?' Even if I had no charm without my dick, if it were the innocent her, maybe there was a chance.

"I see."

But I didn't show it. I calmed my pounding heart and pretended to be composed. Harin must have answered without much meaning, because when the conversation died down, she just stood at the counter.

"I have a question, too."

"What is it?"

"Do guys like being called 'Oppa'?"

This time, Harin asked the question. It was quite a significant topic.

"Why do you ask?"

"One of the seniors in my department keeps persistently asking me to call him 'Oppa.' I was wondering if they really like hearing that."

Which bastard dared? He was definitely a wolf-like guy who didn't know his place and was targeting her.

"...Well, generally speaking, yes. I'm sure most guys would like it."

"Is that so? I've never said it before, so it feels awkward."

With that, Harin closed her mouth again. Should I have been the one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to tell her to practice on me? Would that be too blatant? I did want to hear Harin call me 'Oppa,' too. Was she actually aiming for me to ask her to do it? Because I had just had that outburst earlier, I felt hesitant and couldn't find the courage.

"Oh, time's up. I should get going."

Time waits for no one. While I was hesitating, the opportunity flew away.

"Oh, right. Okay. Good work."

At this rate, she would take my advice and call that senior 'Oppa.' I should have just been bold and asked her without hesitation, even if it was a bit forward. I watched her back as she entered the locker room, engraving regret into my heart.

Yeah, what kind of dating life could I have? I'll just be drained by the girls at home, and when they all leave, I'll live alone. What's the point of having sex? Nothing about me had changed. I was still a loser. Stupid and cowardly.

"Then, I'll be going."

"Yeah, get home safe."

She took off her convenience store vest and said goodbye. As I smiled and waved, she, who had been standing still holding the door, looked back at me and smiled brightly.

"See you tomorrow. Oppa."

Cling.

The bell on the door rang. Before I could even process what I had heard, Harin ran away as if fleeing.

Just now... what did she say?

"Ha."

A laugh of disbelief escaped my lips. An innocent, pure girl? I'd have to revise my assessment. She seemed to be much more of a fox than I thought.

***

"I'm home."

Time had passed in a blur. The meaning of the words she left behind, how to handle this fluttering feeling, the regret over my outburst, and whether our relationship would progress from here. And if it did, what would happen with Ayoung and Jiyoung? My head was so cluttered that I couldn't focus on anything. Thankfully, no customers came in during the early morning, so I didn't make any mistakes.

"You're home?"

As always, Kang Yena greeted me. She had already finished getting ready for work and seemed to have run into me just as she was leaving.

"Heading to work already?"

"Yeah, the owner asked me to handle the opening today."

"Good luck."

I tried to give a polite greeting and head inside, but she blocked the entrance and stared at me.

"Eunseong, can we talk later?"

"Huh?"

I had forgotten because of the storm that had just passed. After the commotion yesterday, Yena had gone into her room with a complicated expression. It was obvious what she wanted to talk to me about. Remembering that, I started to feel nervous.

"Yeah, let's do that."

"Thanks. See you when I get back. Take care of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠girls."

She left the house, saying the same thing she always did. It felt like it might be nothing, but also like it might be serious. My already complicated head felt even more so.

"The nerd is home?"

As I was heading to the bathroom, the door opened and Ayoung popped out. She immediately rushed at me and pressed her soft breasts against me. Seeing how clingy she'd been lately, she was more like a puppy than Hyeji. Still, feeling the texture of her flesh made my head feel a bit clearer. Men are such simple creatures.

"Yeah. Did you sleep well?"

"Wow, look at you acting all sweet."

Yeah, that's Jo Ayoung for you. Sweet, lovey-dovey conversations didn't suit her.

"You're still like that even when I'm being nice?"

"Shut up. Did you buy it?"

"Buy what?"

"Condoms. I told you to buy them."

"Ah."

I had forgotten. I had been so dizzy from Lee Harin's 'Oppa' attack that I hadn't even thought about it. Jo Ayoung, who had been watching my reaction, frowned and glared at me.

"Ah, shit, you don't want to fuck?"

"Sorry. Can't I just pull out?"

"Wow, listen to this guy. You really want to do it, huh?"

"Of course."

"Ha, you've become shameless."

Yeah, what kind of dating life could I have? Jo Ayoung is perfect for me. It's so comfortable, and the words just flow.

"You won't be able to hold back again anyway."

"I could hold back if you didn't wrap your legs around me."

"Can't do that. Just cut your dick off."

She was making me hard again. Was she saying that if I put it in, I absolutely had to finish inside? I chuckled at her response. I felt a bit better.

"...Hey, is something wrong?"

"Huh?"

"No, you look like you have no energy."

Jo Ayoung noticed my mood like a ghost. How? "Uh, I made a mistake at work today." It wasn't a work mistake, but my insides boiled just thinking about it again. No, why did I do that? I could have just spoken normally, like I do with Jo Ayoung or Song Jiyoung.

Jo Ayoung narrowed her eyes, watching me regret it internally. "...Geez. Are you doing this on purpose?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Are you trying to stimulate me by showing your weak side?"

What was that supposed to mean? I stared at her in disbelief, and she stepped up to my side, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered in my ear.

"Want me to suck it for you?"

"What?"

"Why, you guys say you feel good when you touch breasts, right? I'll even suck it for you. That'll give you energy, right?"

Yeah. Absolutely. Hearing her words, I got an immediate erection. Seeing me nod, Jo Ayoung chuckled and grabbed my hand.

"Come in."

"Uh, wait. Isn't Jiyoung inside?"

"Who cares? She already gave permission anyway."

I was led by Jo Ayoung's hand and sat down on the bed with a thud.

"Take it off."

"Are we really doing this here?"

"Hurry."

She knelt in front of me.

Really? While Jiyoung is still here? My head was a mess, but my instincts were faithful. I can't hold back. If I hold back on this, I might as well cut it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off.

I pulled down my pants in one go.

Let's just finish it.